A/N This really should be part of chapter 2. It's mostly Kristina/Sam/Nic bonding that I look forward to seeing. Ric and Alexis are living with all her girls at Windemere.

"No fair!" a small voice exclaims only inches from me. I open one reluctant eye to Kristina, arms crossed in a pout. "Mommy never sleeps in my bed."

I turn and sure enough I have fallen asleep with my head on a pillow in Alexis' lap. "I was very sad last night." I whisper to my little sister, "So Mommy stayed with me. It was just for this one time."

Kristina eyes me suspiciously "You don't call her Mommy! You call her Alexis. Why can you call her Alexis, I'm not allowed to?"

"Um…" I'm not sure how to answer that. I gently pull myself into a sitting position, trying not to wake Alexis. "Kristina, can you get me my robe?" She trots to the bathroom door and tugs on my robe. It falls in a heap on top of her and she laughs. She gathers it in her arms and rushes it back to me. "Thanks, do you know what's for breakfast?" I ask.

"No, but I hope its waffles. I love waffles!"

"Me too." I stand and take Kristina's hand. "Let's let Mo—Alexis sleep, she had a long night."

"Daddy! I found her!" Kristina is pulling me by one arm, I haven't had a chance to tie the belt around my robe, I wasn't expecting to run in to Ric so soon. "She's asleep in Sam's room."

I'm mortified. "Sorry, Ric…"

"It's okay. I figured it was something like that." Ric picks up Kristina in a fluid action. "Do you know what Alfred made for breakfast?"

"Waffles!"

"Um, no, I think he made cabbage oatmeal with broccoli juice."

"Daddy!"

"Oh, that's right, you only like cauliflower oatmeal."

"Daddy, don't be silly!"

"Oh, silly…right. Okay, you've got me, waffles await you Princess." He sets Kristina down next to me. "Why don't the two of you start, I'll be down in few minutes. Make sure you save me some broccoli juice."

"Okay, com'on Sam!"

Nikolas is there, completely dressed, sitting at the round breakfast table, reading the Wall Street Journal. He stands as we enter. "Good morning ladies."

This is weird. Kristina runs and hugs him. "Alfred didn't make any broccoli juice, did he?" The weirdness fades. Kristina has that effect on things.

"No, but I'm sure he could whip some up if you'd like. Shall I ring him?"

"No! I like apple juice and Sam does too. We don't want any broccoli juice do we Sam?"

"I'm on a strictly apple juice diet, doctor's orders."

"See." Kristina slides into the chair on Nikolas' left and pats firmly on the chair to her left. "Sit by me Sam."

"I would be honored." I say, smiling.

Nikolas winks at me. Soon, Kristina is requesting a variety of items, Nikolas serves her dutifully. She says please and thank you at all the right times.

Ric enters as we start eating. He sits on Nikolas' right, leaving Alexis to sit next to me once she arrives. Kristina informs him that there is no broccoli juice to be had and Ric feigns disappointment.

"When is the first launch this morning Nikolas? I have an appointment at 9:30."

"I was planning to leave right after I ate, but I'd be happy to wait for you and Alexis."

"It will just be me, Alexis isn't going into Port Charles today."

Despite myself, I jerk my head up and ask "Is she okay?"

"Oh, yes she's fine Sam. Just tired I think." I blush, I hate myself for it. Ric turns back to Nikolas "I can be ready in about 20 minutes, I'll meet you at the dock?"

"Sounds good."

"Good Morning Family." Alexis enters in a robe. She kisses Ric, Nikolas, and Kristina, she stops behind my chair and squeezes my shoulders before she takes the empty chair.

"Mommy, you forgot to kiss Sam!"

"I didn't forget…ahem…" Alexis turns slightly pink.

"I'm not big on being kissed, Kristina. Alexis knows that." This is too hard. I rise quickly, "I need to take a shower. Tell Alfred breakfast was wonderful."

"Do you…" Alexis starts.

"No, I'm fine thanks." My first few showers after being released Alexis had helped me in and out of the shower stall. It had been beyond awkward. I was much stronger now and determined to regain some of my independence. I don't look to see if she's hurt or relieved.

I stare at the clothes in my closet for ages with my hair dripping down my back. They are my clothes. Jason had them sent. But they don't seem right. Maybe it's that they magically appear washed, pressed and hanging in my closet without me doing a thing. Even my jeans have creases. I grab a pair and fight the urge to jump on them until they don't look so formal. I pull on a yellow halter top, determined not to turn into a mini-Alexis.

Out of no where I wonder: Why aren't I taller? Was my father short? That doesn't seem likely. It seems rather funny.

"We're going on a picnic!" Kristina bursts into my room. She's in a sundress, her hair in neat braids.

"Oh that sounds like fun! Have a great time."

"No, you have to come too! Mommy said we're going to the cove…I think there is buried treasure there."

"Kristina, I told you to ask Sam if she wanted to come." Alexis is in the doorway, arms crossed, looking a bit stern.

"She does Mommy. Don't you Sam?"

"Yeah, that sounds nice."

"Alfred's making peanut butter and jelly and lemonade and cookies and…"

"Hey, let her have a few surprises okay?" Alexis interrupts the menu. "Can you go downstairs and pick out which dolls you want to bring?"

"They all want to come!"

"Two, two can come."

"But…"

"No buts…tell Viola I'll be down in about five minutes." Kristina shrugs and exits slightly deflated. "I'm sorry Sam. Don't feel like you have to come."

It's my turn to shrug. "It would be nice, but if you want some time alone with your girls…"

"I do. I want some time alone with my three girls." She smiles then rubs her neck.

"I'm sorry about last night." I blurt out.

Alexis cocks her head, "Don't be. I'm not."

"You've got to be sore from sleeping like that."

"No…a little…Okay, my neck is killing me, but Sam…"

"Thank you. It meant a lot to me. I'm not sure what got into me. I hope Ric wasn't mad. I mean, it won't happen again."

"He's not mad Sam. He's a good man, if you would give him a chance."

This annoys me. I say "Um, he doesn't like me Alexis and I know he's trying, but the history we have is still there. I'm not Kristina's age…he'll never be a father to me."

"That's good, considering he was about eleven when you were born." Alexis says wryly. "Listen Sam, I know this is hard."

"It really is…" I barely whisper.

"You hate it here don't you?"

"A little…a lot." Her face falls, she's hurt. I backtrack. "I mean I love being with the girls and getting to know you. But Nikolas and a butler? I mean, I like Nikolas but he's a stranger. And I feel so weird with Ric…I know you are a package deal. I get that."

"MOMMY…it's been five minutes…lets go!" Kristina calls from below. I can tell Alexis wants to continue this discussion, but I can't right now. I don't know how to tell her I can't stay.